South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-11-11

In NJ cns OrfaYn.
Died. at his home in Ronbev. " /
Va. Nov. 9th, 10 81. VIM. Harper,
Eco. in the eishtie.h year OF his aes.|
Thus another. and almost tho last !,
presen'stivs Of the generation
which did 30 much to mould the char !
acter Of this community. has pas ssd
away. Few, II any. Of oil those who,
nearly three score years ago. vel.
coined tie young printer Who had
come to their mountain home TO TAX q
up. with them, the burden OF lifs's
duties. with its ,ys an its sorrox
survive him.
Something more than q pacing
notice aeems due to one who. Ia d
profession SO potent for evil or for
good, 30 long and 50 faithfully dis
Charged his duties. and GIled 90
large place In the thou ;ht and
work OF those among whom he ha II
cast bis lot.
Mr. Harper was born In Chambers .
burg, Pa. 10 1909. aud Vas a young
er son Of George Ksnton Harper, o
well.known Editor in tLat State.
When but youth lie left his native
town and went 10 Stanton, Va, to
live with his brother, the late GEM
Kenton Harper. who was 90 long and
81 prominently identified with the
interests Of the Valley AID of tie
State of Va. through the "S,aunton
Spectator"
Under the training OF this
brother Mr.. Harper fitted him self for
his inherited calling. and set out,
when about twenty zone years cd, to
found and publish PAPER Of his own.
His attention had been directed to
the beautiful and fertile Valley Of
the South Branch Of the Potomac.
In 1929 he visited Moorcfeld and
Romney. in Hardy and Hampshire
c'u1ties. an ! conc!u lie 20 b,gin his
enterprise in the latter p'ac-.
In 1880 he issue d the first mum
Der o! the South Branch Intelligen.
cer," and. with the exception of SUI Ii
Interruptions az thst OF the late civ.
il war and those caused by the grow.
ing infirmities Of age, continued t.
own. edit nn1 publish it up to Iii
death.
A physical constituio Away!
delicate. and a quiet and retiring
dispo,iti IN kept hin, perhaps, from
the more aggressive work of an edi-
tor. Yet his aim Was to make hi
paper conservative in oil respects
and wholesome and welcome visit
or 10 the homes of his patrons.
How well ha succ ,eled, the sino' G
fact that for almost sixty years h
mairtain, d its place and his own il
the esteem and confidence of tn
people abundant ,estifes. Ho,
great AMI strong the influence WELD
ed 10y him through this weekly v sit
or amid the vast AMI rspil change
through which the country passc,
from the time he first took up Lis pc
until il fell from his aged hand, Q
terniy alone will reveal.
Not long after ho settled in Rom
ney, he was united in marriage wit
Miss Nancy Newman. a daughter G
DIR. Rob,. Newman and hand in han
with her walked amid the mingle
lights and shades Of life until sh
was removed by dea'h in 1865, ieav
ing With lin two cons and two dau.'I
tiers.
During that memorable religion
awakening which so stirred and qnicl
cntd ell this region in 1882, Mr.Tar
per. with his young wife, and man
others united with the Prctb terra
church in Romney Of VIII Gu DR.. WI
ii. Foo,e was then pastor. Thu
early in life he entered upon tia
grcatFpir;tuaI battle which ends
ly when the Great Captain bid.
soldi,Is Rest" In IL, with him. a
with US nll, there was more or less q
Nicissitude sometimes the sad wa
OF apparent defeat, aid sometime
the z ad vicsor'S shout. And wItet
the final struggle cane, thoss VIII
gathered about the aged warrio
we're privilege 10 hear him calml
and clearly express his faith in Je
sus-Jesus only-while he cent {
the loved ones far away his farewe
messages OF faith, and hope an
love.
In 1867 Mr.. iiarper was marie
10 Miss Sallie l. Kane who choere
bis declining days. and minis'cred {
bis evcr.growing infrmities wit
tender, loving patien &c nnlo the END
With their two soma. she still remaini
to mourn indeed, but not as lhos
Who have no hope. Il.